Hey all. I want to switch to full winter tires for the next 5 months or so. They don't make them in the stock size for an 08 335xi with 18" rims. They suggested a different size size for the rears. Anyone have suggestions on what tire combo for the Blizzaks should be? I don't feel like blowing up my xdrive.

You can either run the same size tires on all 4 corners and have a stretched looked on the wider width wheel. Or else you can run a staggered tire setup, but you have to make sure that the rolling diameter is the same front to back to avoid running into issues with the xi/xdrive system.

I don't care for the blizzak, or other studless snow tires on this type of vehicle, they feel too squirely for me on the highway. I prefer the winter performance tires, I use the dunlop wintersports.I live at 6200 feet and deal with a lot of thick heavy snow. Commute a couple days a week about 50 miles each way on the freeway. When I head down to drier climes during the winter, I don't get that floaty feeling.

When I lived in Olympia, I did not use dedicated winters, but I was only commuting to Ft. Lewis and back. There were a lot of icy mornings as I recall.

I would suggest that you may want to invest in a winter wheel set-up. You could probably get a 17" set with low pressure or maybe high pressure cast wheels and lm60s for around 1100-1200.

By the time you get the tires change six times over three years the wheels will basically pay for themselves and you won't be stressing your rims & tires with constant install & removal.

...just a thought.

+1. I have a designated set of 17"s with blizzaks (square) on my non-xdrive vehicle, and it makes a world of difference. Summer Bridgestone RFT's are completely useless in the winter (if there's any snow on the road). however, w/ the blizzaks, I've had no issues whatsoever.

I am running squared Blizzak WS70 tires at 245/40R17. Barely a little growl at high speed. of course they are softer, but that is a good thing. I am waiting for some real snow to try them out, but my 335xi should be a friggin TANK in the snow on these

I am running squared Blizzak WS70 tires at 245/40R17. Barely a little growl at high speed. of course they are softer, but that is a good thing. I am waiting for some real snow to try them out, but my 335xi should be a friggin TANK in the snow on these

I can tell you, my RWD 335d with LMs is a tank in the snow, so your ride with the WSs should be a darn snowmobile.

I have the LM-60's. Running a square tire setup 225/45/18 on my stock staggered 189's. It's no problem. Hopefully get to test these tires and AWD with some snow this winter after getting none last season.